A 37-year-old Brainerd man faces charges for allegedly engaging in sexual conduct with a child while she attended distance learning.
Justin Dexter Antonsen made his first appearance Wednesday, Oct. 27, in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd and faces charges of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim under the age of 13 who was known to the defendant.
The charges stem from a May 2020 incident involving an 8-year-old girl under Antonsen’s care. The alleged incidents took place over the course of a month while the victim was participating in distance learning.
The court documents state Antonsen engaged in sexual conduct with the child when she would be on break during school and stated this happened for about a month when she was going to bed.
The Brainerd Police Department became aware of the alleged criminal sexual conduct Oct. 13, 2020, when a therapist made a report after learning of the alleged crime.
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Two other children were home during the alleged incident.
According to court documents, the mother learned of the incident after returning home from work and was informed her daughter was crying. After talking with her daughter, the mother confronted Antonsen, who allegedly admitted to the incident and stated he "didn't understand what he had done" and was "bawling when he realized the extent of what he did."
The maximum sentence for felony second-degree criminal sexual conduct is 25 years in prison and a $35,000 fine.
Antonsen posted the $50,000 bond Oct. 27. His next court hearing is set for Jan. 27, 2022.
